Tops mangers chase down ‘seafood bandit’ on foot

Cazenovia  The Tops store manager and meat department manager last week chased down on foot a man who grabbed more than $200 worth of seafood and ran out of the store. The Nov. 5 chase went down Nelson Street toward the center of the village before the thief, Joseph T. Celentano, 62, of Cazenovia, was taken down. Cazenovia village police were called while the incident was in progress and reached the Nelson Street scene just after Tops store manager Sam Rizzo and his colleague had stopped Celentano.

Celentano, who had grabbed 10 bags of shrimp worth $177.90 and scallops worth $50, was arrested and charged with one count of petit larceny. He was arraigned by Acting Village Justice Patrick O’Sullivan and ordered held at the Madison County Public Safety Building in lieu of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at editor@cazenoviarepublican.com.